Foam producing and dispensing container

ABSTRACT

A container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container having a deformable wall, a spout portion having external threads, a fitment attached to the spout and retaining a porous element, and a cap member threadedly attached to the spout and having an outlet orifice therein, the cap being rotatable to a first position in which communication between the porous element and the outlet orifice is interrupted and a second position in which communication between the porous element and the outlet orifice is open. The fitment and porous element are so arranged within the spout that fluid dispensed from the container and air simultaneously pass through the porous element where they are mixed prior to being dispensed as a foam.

[ 51 Jan. 311, 1973 154] FOAM PRODUCING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Milo E. Webster, Braintree, Mass.

[73] Assignee: The Gillette Company, Boston,

Mass.

[22] Filed: March 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 128,697

[52] U.S. Cl. ..239/326, 239/327, 222/519 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 11/00 [58] Field of Search...239/l45, 326, 327, 575, 590.3,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Viard ..239/326 Moran ..222/519 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant ExaminerJohn J. Love Att0rneylhilip Colman, Oistein J. Bratlie, William M. Anderson and Scott R. Foster [57] ABSTRACT A container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container having a deformable wall, a spout portion having external threads, a fitment attached to the spout and retaining a porous element, and a cap member threadedly attached to the spout and having an outlet orifice therein, the cap being rotatable to a first position in which communication between the porous element and the outlet orifice is interrupted and a second position in which communication between the porous element and the outlet orifice is open. The fitment and porous element are so arranged within the spout that fluid dispensed from the container and air simultaneously pass through the porous element where they are mixed prior to being dispensed as a foam.

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IN VE N TOR Milo E. Webster A/tomey FOAM PRODUCING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to squeeze-type containers and is directed more particularly to a foam producing and dispensing container.

2. Description of the Prior Art Foam products, such as shaving creams and the like, are generally dispensed from containers of the aerosol type. Such containers usually are partially filled with a liquid product and include, in addition to the product, a propellant gas. Upon opening of the container discharge valve, the propellant gas together with the liquid product are forced out through a small orifice. Upon leaving the container, the mixture expands rapidly and thereby converts to foam. I

The charging of aerosol containers requires expensive equipment. Further, such containers must be fitted with valves made to relatively close tolerances. Containers and valves must be able to withstand pressure within the container and must be chemically resistent to not only the product contained but also the propellant. Still further, once emptied the containers in general use today are not suitable for re-filling and reuse. Finally, it often happens that the propellant is a relatively expensive component of the contents of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foam producing and dispensing container in which a propellant is not required for operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a container in which is disposed a relatively inexpensive and non-complex valve means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a container of the squeeze-bottle type.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container having a deformable wall, a spout portion, a foam-producing fitment attached to the spout, and a cap member-attached to the spout and covering the fitment, the cap member being movable between open and closed positions whereby to open and close communication between the fitment and a discharge passage in the cap.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of one form of container illustrative of an embodiment of the invention and showing the cap in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the cap in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a first fitment member;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the first fitment member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first fitment member, taken along line V--V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view ofa second fitment member;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second fitment member, taken along line VIIVII of FIG. 6;

- FIGS. 8-10 are similar to FIGS. 3-5, but showing an alternative first fitment member; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing an alternative second fitment member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the invention. comprises a bottle 2 having a deformable wall 4, and an externally threaded spout portion 6 which has the usual flow path therethrough. The free end of the spout portion 6 includes a flange 8 adjacent an annular groove 10, the flange and groove cooperating to receive and retain a fitment 12.

The fitment 12 comprises a first fitment member, or cup member, 14, a second fitment member, ,or retaining ring, 16, and a porous element 18.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the retaining ring 16 comprises an annulus 20 bounded by a bead 22. A plurality of depending legs 24 support a plurality of struts 26 which join at the center of the annulus. Turning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the ring 16 receives the porous element 18. A flange 30 extends outwardly from the porous element 18 and engages a surface of the annulus 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, it will be seen that the cup member 14 comprises a cylindrical wall 40 supporting an annulus 42 which in turn supports a concentric inner wall 44. Extending inwardly from the inner wall 44 are a plurality of struts 46 joined at the center of the annulus. The free end of the cylindrical wall, or outer wall, 40, is provided with an inwardly directed annular bead 48. Joining the other end of the outer wall 40, and also the annulus 42, is a flexible apron 50. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cup member 14 receives the retaining ring 16 and porous element 18. In assembly, the retaining ring bead 22 is forced past the cup member bead 48 and into the cup member until the porous element flange 30 is clamped between the first and second fitment members 14, 16. The cup member bead 48 is then forced over the bottle spout flange 8 to engage the groove 10, whereby to connect the fitment 12 to the bottle 2.

Still referring to FIGS. I and 2, a cap 60 is provided and includes top 62 and skirt portions 64. The skirt portion 64 is threaded internally for attachment to the spout 6. In placing the cap 60 on the spout 6, the apron 50 of the cup member 14 is compressed to form a seal between the fitment 12 and the cap 60. The free end of the skirt portion 64 of the cap 60 is provided with a recess 66 which receives a shoulder 68 about the spout 6. After the cap is forced over the shoulder 68, the recess 66 permits, within limits, movement of the cap axially relative to the spout, to open and close the spout as will now be described.

The cap top 62 is provided with a depending annular wall 70 which, when the cap is fully screwed onto the spout as shown in FIG. 1, engages the inner wall 44 and annulus 42 of the cup member 14. The cap 60 is provided with a discharge orifice 80, but in the fully screwed-on position, the annular wall 70 interrupts a path of communication which would otherwise exist between the spout flow path and the orifice 80.

The cap 60 may be unscrewed relative to the spout, until the shoulder 68 abuts a limit of the recess 66, at which position the annular wall 70 is removed from its interrupting position and the orifice 80 is in communication, via the fitment 12, with the spout flow path, as shown in FIG. 2.

In operation, the cap is unscrewed prior to use. The bottle is then inverted for a time period sufficient to soak the porous element 18 with the fluid contained in the bottle. The bottle is then returned to a generally upright position and pressure is applied to the deformable wall 4. Inward pressure exerted on the wall 4 causes air in the bottle, and perhaps additional fluid, to be forced through the porous element where the fluid held by the porous element and the air mix to form a foam which is carried out the orifice 80. The apron S acts as a sealing means and prevents escape of foam along the threaded portions of the cap and spout. After use, the cap is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1 to close the bottle.

When the contents of the bottle are exhausted, the cap 60 may be forced over the shoulder 68 and removed. In like manner, the fitment 12 may be forced over the flange 8 andremoved therefrom. Thus, the bottle 2 may be refilled and the various components reassembled for further operations.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure. For example, FIGS. 8-12 are illustrative of alternative embodiments of cup member 14. and retaining ring 16'.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container comprising a bottle having a deformable wall, a spout portion having a flow path therethrough, a free end of said spout portion having an outwardly extending flange, a fitment attached to said flange, said fitment extending across said flow path and retaining a porous element, and a cap attached to said spout, said cap covering said fitment and having a threaded for threaded engagement with said spout.

3. The invention according to claim 2 m which said spout is provided with an external shoulder received by an internal recess in said cap, the shoulder operating to limit movement of the cap axially of the bottle.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said portion of said cap comprises an annular wall depending from a top portion of said cap.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said fitment comprises first and second fitment members connected together and having said porous element clamped therebetween.

6. The invention according to claim 5 in which said first fitment member comprises a cup member for receiving said porous element and said second fitment member comprises a retaining ring for securely retaining the porous element between the cup member and retaining ring.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said cup member is provided with head means engaged with flange and recess means on said spout to connect said fitment to said spout.

8. The invention according to claim 1 in which said fitment is provided with a peripheral flexible apron which engages the interior of said cap and is compressed between said fitment and the interior of said cap to prevent flow thereby.

9. The invention according to claim 6 in which said retaining ring is disposed within a generally cylindrical wall portion of said cup member.

10. A container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container comprising a bottle having a deformable wall, a spout portion having a flow path therethrough, a fitment attached to an external side wall of said spout and disposed across said flow path, said fitment retaining a porous element, and a cap attached to said spout, said cap covering said fitment and having a discharge orifice, the cap being movable upon said spout to a first position in which a portion of said cap engages said fitment to interrupt communication between said orifice and said flow path and to a second position in which said portion of said cap is removed from said fitment to permit communication between said orifice and said flow path. 

1. A container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container comprising a bottle having a deformable wall, a spout portion having a flow path therethrough, a free end of said spout portion having an outwardly extending flange, a fitment attached to said flange, said fitment extending across said flow path and retaining a porous element, and a cap attached to said spout, said cap covering said fitment and having a discharge orifice, the cap being rotatable upon said spout to a first position in which a portion of said cap engages said fitment to interrupt communication between said orifice and said flow path and to a second position in which said portion of said cap is removed from said fitment to permit communication between said orifice and said flow path.
 1. A container for dispensing fluid contained therein as a foam, the container comprising a bottle having a deformable wall, a spout portion having a flow path therethrough, a free end of said spout portion having an outwardly extending flange, a fitment attached to said flange, said fitment extending across said flow path and retaining a porous element, and a cap attached to said spout, said cap covering said fitment and having a discharge orifice, the cap being rotatable upon said spout to a first position in which a portion of said cap engages said fitment to interrupt communication between said orifice and said flow path and to a second position in which said portion of said cap is removed from said fitment to permit communication between said orifice and said flow path.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said spout is externally threaded and said cap is internally threaded for threaded engagement with said spout.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said spout is provided with an external shoulder received by an internal recess in said cap, the shoulder operating to limit movement of the cap axially of the bottle.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said portion of said cap comprises an annular wall depending from a top portion of said cap.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said fitment comprises first and second fitment members connected together and having said porous element clamped therebetween.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 in which said first fitment member comprises a cup member for receiving said porous element and said second fitment member comprises a retaining ring for securely retaining the porous element between the cup member and retaining ring.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 in wHich said cup member is provided with bead means engaged with flange and recess means on said spout to connect said fitment to said spout.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 in which said fitment is provided with a peripheral flexible apron which engages the interior of said cap and is compressed between said fitment and the interior of said cap to prevent flow thereby.
 9. The invention according to claim 6 in which said retaining ring is disposed within a generally cylindrical wall portion of said cup member. 